Frequently Asked Questions

New students will first meet with academic advisors at their mandatory Orientation Program hosted by the New Student Transition & Family Connections Office. After Orientation, you will be connected with a department specific advisor or with a general academic advisor.

Class schedule changes can be made through your My Boise State account.

Degree-seeking students who are new to Boise State are expected to attend orientation before getting started. During orientation, you will meet with an academic advisor who will help you register for classes. You will not be able to register for classes prior to your orientation date. If you choose to not attend orientation, you will be able to register for courses during open enrollment, which typically occurs 1-2 weeks before the start of each term.

Application fees are payable through our online application by Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Payment online is processed through a secure web server and is the recommended method of application fee payment.

Applicants wishing to pay by check or money order should mail payment and a cover sheet that includes the student’s full name, date of birth, phone number and email address to:

Boise State University Admissions
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725-1320

Once the check or money order is received, Admissions will credit your online application with payment. You will receive an email that your payment has been processed and then you may submit your application online. If you are paying your application through check or money order, please allow us two business days to process your payment. We will need to process your payment and you will need to submit your application online prior to any applicable application or scholarship deadlines.

Admissions strongly encourages students to pay by credit card, check or money order. Cash payment by mail is not advised due to the inability to track payment. If you must pay by cash, please bring your application fee payment to our office in the Student Union Building (SUB). Boise State Admissions is located on the first floor of the SUB. You may access a campus map for more detailed directions.

Students applying for undergraduate admission may qualify for a waiver of the application fee by providing documentation of economic need. If you submit a completed application fee waiver form, please allow us two business days to process your waiver. We will need to approve your waiver and you will need to submit your application online prior to any applicable application or scholarship deadlines.

Application Fee Waiver

Please note: International students are not eligible for application fee waivers based on financial need.

If you submitted an application in error and paid the wrong fee (for example, you need to be a graduate student, but applied as an undergraduate student and paid the undergraduate application fee), please contact Admissions at (208) 426-1156 or admissions@boisestate.edu to discuss your options.

Once all your admission materials have been received it takes approximately three weeks to process your application and make your admission decision. You’ll be notified of your admission decision by mail and email. A printable letter of admission will be posted on your My Boise State page. Get in the habit of checking your BroncoMail and myBoiseState frequently, as important information is posted regularly.

If you need to move an application that you have already submitted forward or backward one semester, you must complete our Deferment Request Form.
Move Your Application

Your state of legal residence is determined at the time of your initial application for admission to Boise State. Be sure to answer all questions on the admission application as fully as possible. The full process for establishing Idaho residency is listed on the Registrar’s webpage. Further questions can be directed to Josh Wilkins at joshuawilkins@boisestate.edu.

Official transcripts are required to complete your undergraduate degree-seeking application to Boise State University. It is your responsibility to order an official transcript from EACH regionally accredited college/university you have attended (including dual/concurrent enrollment), and from your high school (if required). You may use one of the options listed on the official transcripts page to have your official transcript(s) sent to the Boise State Admissions Office.

Whether you want to spend a weekend exploring here or simply join us for a virtual visit, we offer a diverse set of options for you to learn more about our campus, student life, academics, and more.

Learn More About Campus Visits

Yes, the Department of Public Safety publishes the Boise State University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report is provided to students, faculty, staff, and the public as part of the University’s commitment to safety and security on campus, and in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. Copies of the report may also be requested in person through the Department of Public Safety at 2245 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83706, by calling (208) 426-6911, or by sending an email to publicsafety@boisestate.edu.

The 2023 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report for Boise State University is now available online at Boise State Annual Fire and Safety Report

The safety of our students, faculty, staff and campus guests is our highest priority. The Boise State University Department of Public Safety provides security services including BroncoAlert, free 24-hour campus security escorts, over 70 emergency phones located across campus, and an expansive set of campus safety resources.

For all updates and information on how the university is preventing and/or minimizing the spread of communicable diseases, please visit our Public Health Response response page.

Scholarships are automatically awarded to admitted degree-seeking students who meet the criteria. All required admission materials must be received by Boise State Admissions by the Application and Scholarship Priority Deadline to be considered for automatic scholarships.

• Automatic Scholarships for Idaho Residents
• Automatic Scholarships for Nonresidents

Students can check out the Financial Aid scholarship website for information about automatic scholarships, federal student aid, additional scholarships, and other funding opportunities.

Call the Financial Aid office at (208) 426-1664 or email financialaid@boisestate.edu.

Yes, there are additional options to update your financial information. The Change in Finances page offers several ways to request a review depending on your specific financial circumstances. For help deciding which form is appropriate for your situation, call Financial Aid at (208) 426-1664.

Students who have completed their intent to enroll confirmation are able to apply for on-campus housing while their application is open.

For students starting in the fall semester, the “first year” housing application opens in March and “sophomore and above” students (including many new transfer students) are able to apply in mid-February. For students starting in the spring semester, the housing application opens in early October.

Watch your Boise State email for your housing application instructions.

We recommend bringing bedding, personal hygiene essentials, any appliances with closed coil elements, extra lighting, mini refrigerators, microwaves, decorations and audio visual equipment. Housing and Residence Life offers a comprehensive list of what to bring and what to leave home.

Got a specific item you’re unsure about? Contact Housing and Residence Life:
Email: housing@boisestate.edu
Phone: (208) 447-1001

The first housing payment is due prior to move in, however late charges are not assessed until after September 1 for Fall semester and February 1 for Spring semester.

Monthly payments are due on the 25th of every month (July through April). Check Bronco Accounts regularly to view posted charges.

More information is available on the Housing Payments and Billing page.

We’ve got this covered! Visit Housing and Residence Life for more specifics on living on campus.
Housing Help Center

Submit your photo now so we can have your card ready and waiting. Bronco Cards help you enter buildings, purchase food, check out books and so much more.
How to Get a Bronco Card

Once you have been admitted and have decided to enroll at Boise State, you are required to reserve your spot in the incoming class by submitting the Intent to Enroll along with a $100 enrollment confirmation. Waivers are available for students demonstrating financial need.

In addition to reserving your spot in the incoming class, this also:

• allows you to sign-up for an orientation program
• secures any scholarships you’ve been offered
• ensures processing of your final enrollment materials
• helps us plan for the incoming class (so even if you’re enrolling elsewhere, please fill out the form to let us know!)

Learn More About the Intent to Enroll

Boise State University provides a convenient process for students wanting to take courses of interest. All you need to do is submit the Boise State Application along with the nonrefundable application fee. Select either the undergraduate application or the graduate application depending on which course(s) you plan to take.

Boise State has a secure server which will ensure your privacy to apply online. You are able to submit credit card payment online for your application fee as well.
Apply Now

As a nondegree-seeking student during the fall or spring semester, you can register for any combination of courses totaling seven or fewer credits; or a maximum of two courses, even if these courses total more than seven credits. Non-degree seeking students pay the part-time per credit rate.

Non-degree-seeking students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid no matter when classes are taken. In addition, transfer students will not receive an evaluation of their transfer credit until they apply and are admitted as degree-seeking students. Any credits earned as a non-degree-seeking student can be applied toward a degree at a later date.

As a nondegree-seeking student, you can register for classes during open enrollment. Check out the academic calendar for more information on the open enrollment date.

• Academic Support: Full services available
• Associated Students of Boise State: Eligible to vote in Campus elections. Must be full-time status to run for office.
• Athletic Tickets: 2 Guest tickets to Football and Basketball games
• Campus Recreation: Additional fee per semester required
• Career Center: Full services available
• Counseling Services: Full services available
• Children’s Services: Available if taking 6 or more credits
• Health and Wellness Center: Additional fee per semester required
• Internships: Eligible to participate
• Intramural Sports: Eligible to participate
• Outdoor Recreation: Full services available
• Transportation and Parking: Full services available
• Student Employment: Available with 6 or more credits
• Student Housing: Contact Housing and Residence Life for details
• Student ID card: Available
• Veterans Services: Full services available
• Writing Center: Full services available

Bronco Welcome kicks off the first week of the semester with a full schedule of fun activities. Float the river, grab a burger at a cookout or practice your bowling skills for free in the SUB Game Center. Keep checking the Bronco Welcome schedule for new events to attend!

The majority of our on-campus student resources can be easily reached without a vehicle. We also encourage the use of the campus shuttle service and the City of Boise bus service, both of which are free to all full-time students. Many of our on-campus students do not need a personal vehicle.

Parking passes are purchased online at Transportation and Parking.

Our campus is extremely bike friendly, and bicycles are encouraged as a way of getting around campus! Boise State’s campus has over 1,000 places to park your bike. Plus! If you need a tune up or repair, The Cycle Learning Center is conveniently located on campus and here to help cyclists and commuters.

To be considered a transfer student, you need to have completed 14 or more transferable credits at your time of admission. To apply, you will need to submit an application and send us your official transcripts from each institution you have received college credits from. If you have not yet completed 14 semester credits, don’t worry, you can still apply! We will also ask for your final high school transcript to complete your application.

After you have been admitted, our Office of the Registrar will officially evaluate your transcripts. Once your credits have been evaluated, your Transfer Credit Report will be posted to your myBoiseState account within the Student Center. This report will show you how each of your classes have been transferred into Boise State, as well as any test credits that have been received and equated. See step-by-step instructions on how to access your Transfer Credit Report. For additional information about transfer credit policies, please review the Transfer Credit Basics website